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Global Chief Operating Officer Turnover Index

We share the latest Chief Operating Officer (COO) turnover data for listed companies globally. Updated each quarter, you’ll find the proportion of COO departures and appointments, as well as trend analysis by gender and tenure across internal and external hires.

COO Turnover Index - Russell Reynolds Associates

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Incoming
Outgoing
Index view
Industry view
Incoming COOs
Incoming COOs: Gender
Incoming COOs: Appointment
Incoming COOs: Experience

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Global (All Companies)   S&P 500   FTSE 100   ASX 200   CAC 40   EuroNext 100   FTSE 250   HANG SENG   Nikkei 225   S&P/TSX Composite   STI  
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Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 S&P/TSX Composite STI
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Select Index

Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 S&P/TSX Composite STI
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Select Index

Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 S&P/TSX Composite STI
Download data
Incoming COOs
Incoming COOs: Gender
Incoming COOs: Appointment
Incoming COOs: Experience

Select Industry

Global (All Companies)  Consumer   Financial Services   Healthcare  Industrial  Technology 
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Select Industry

Global Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Select Industry

Global Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Select Industry

Global Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
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Index view
Industry view
Outgoing COOs
Outgoing COOs: Gender
Outgoing COOs: Appointment
Outgoing COOs: Experience
Outgoing COOs: Tenure
Outgoing COOs: Retired/Board or New Role

Select Index

Global (All Companies)   S&P 500   FTSE 100   ASX 200   CAC 40   EuroNext 100   FTSE 250   HANG SENG   Nikkei 225   S&P/TSX Composite   STI  
Download data

Select Index

Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 S&P/TSX Composite STI
Download data

Select Index

Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 S&P/TSX Composite STI
Download data

Select Index

Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 S&P/TSX Composite STI
Download data

Select Index

Global (All Companies)  S&P 500   FTSE 100   ASX 200   CAC 40   EuroNext 100   FTSE 250   HANG SENG   Nikkei 225   S&P/TSX Composite   STI  
Download data

Select Index

Global (All Companies) S&P 500 FTSE 100 ASX 200 CAC 40 EuroNext 100 FTSE 250 HANG SENG Nikkei 225 S&P/TSX Composite STI
Download data
Outgoing COOs
Outgoing COOs: Gender
Outgoing COOs: Appointment
Outgoing COOs: Experience
Outgoing COOs: Tenure
Outgoing COOs: Retired/Board or New Role

Select Industry

Global (All Companies)  Consumer   Financial Services   Healthcare  Industrial  Technology 
Download data

Select Industry

Global Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
Download data

Select Industry

Global Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
Download data

Select Industry

Global Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
Download data

Select Industry

Global (All Companies)  Consumer   Financial Services   Healthcare   Industrial   Technology  
Download data

Select Industry

Global (All Companies) Consumer Financial Services Healthcare Industrial Technology
Download data

 

Global COO Turnover Index: Key Trends H1 2025

 

01

COO turnover shows signs of stabilizing

In H1 2025, incoming COO appointments remain close to the seven-year average with 74 COOs appointed, while 36 COOs departed their roles in H1 2025, down from 62 departures in H1 2024 and marking the lowest number of H1 departures since tracking began in 2019.

 

When we look at the tenure of outgoing COOs in H1 2025, we see a similar picture—COOs are staying in role for longer. In H1 2025, the average outgoing COO tenure was 3.9 years, an increase compared to 3.3 years in H1 2024 and the highest H1 tenure since tracking began.

 

This demonstrates that turnover in the COO role is starting to stabilize. While COOs can be appointed for focused mandates—such as for CEO succession or leading a defined transformation—the role is expanding. With greater ownership of AI-enabled transformation, boards and CEOs are placing a higher premium on continuity. As a result, more COOs are staying in role for longer and are expected to both stabilize operations and drive tech-enabled change.

 

 

02

Internal COO appointments increase

Internal COO appointments reached 81% in H1 2025, up from 76% in H1 2024 and the highest level since H1 2021.

 

One reason for this increase in internal appointments could be that for those COOs tasked with driving AI-enabled transformation; organizations are increasingly looking for leaders with deep institutional knowledge rather than purely technical expertise.

 

Internal candidates will understand existing processes, relationships, and cultural dynamics necessary to build consensus and execute comprehensive change initiatives effectively.

 

This increase in internal appointments to drive large-scale transformation initiatives is a pattern we've also recognized with the CHRO role.

 

 

03

Women COO appointments recover to seven-year average

Women COO appointments returned to 17% in H1 2025, recovering to H1 2023 levels after declining to 7% in H1 2024. While women COO appointments have returned to the seven-year average, there’s still a significant pool of potential COO leadership talent that remains untapped.

 

For organizations to access the full spectrum of leadership talent in an increasingly competitive environment, executives and their boards must continue to challenge traditional leadership profiles and accelerate the development of a broader pool of leadership talent.

What is COO turnover?

COO turnover refers to the rate at which COOs depart and are hired from their roles. It can be a helpful indicator of wider trends, including economic health and businesses’ risk appetites.

How has COO turnover changed for public companies?

COO turnover has fluctuated since 2019 for the companies listed on the 10 indices tracked in the COO Turnover Index, hitting a high in 2022, when 136 COOs were appointed globally. COO turnover remained high in 2024, with 130 COO appointments globally.

Why is COO turnover so high for public firms globally?

High COO turnover signals the evolving nature of the COO. As the operational landscape shifts, organizations are seeking more agile, creative COOs who can partner effectively across R&D, finance, and emerging technology functions.

How many COOs were appointed globally in 2024 at public companies?

There were 130 COO appointments globally in 2024 for the companies listed on the 10 indices tracked in the COO Turnover Index. This included:

  • 39 COO appointments in the S&P 500.
  • 25 COO appointments in ASX 200.
  • 7 COO appointments in the FTSE 100.

How many COOs of public companies stepped down in 2024?

There were 124 COO departures globally in 2024 for the companies listed on the 10 indices tracked in the COO Turnover Index. This included:

  • 44 COO departures in the S&P 500.
  • 21 COO departures in ASX 200.
  • 7 COO departures in the FTSE 100.

What is the proportion of women COO appointments at public firms in 2024?

Women remain largely underrepresented in the COO role across the world as per the COO Turnover Index. In 2024, women accounted for 17 of COO appointments globally (13% of all appointments), compared to 113 for men. However, there are regional nuances. In 2024:

  • 6 women COOs were appointed in the S&P 500, representing 15% of COO appointments.
  • 4 women COOs were appointed in the ASX 200, representing 16% of COO appointments.
  • 1 woman COO was appointed in the FTSE 100, representing 14% of COO appointments.

What proportion of new COOs of public companies were first-time COOs?

In 2024, 74% of 130 COO appointments were first-time COOs for the companies listed on the 10 indices tracked in the COO Turnover Index. They had never held a COO role at a public-listed company.

What’s the average tenure of COOs at publicly listed companies?

In 2024, the average tenure of COOs was 3.4 years.

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